Unit load hold-down and mounting

ABSTRACT

This invention adapts railway flat cars or other vehicles to secure a semitrailer on pedestals or a cargo container either on or between the pedestals. Automatic locking latches on the pedestals secure the trailer when set down thereon. A lifting device releases latches and lifts the load from the pedestals. The pedestals support the trailer bed at height above the bed of the car for trailer wheels to be relieved of carrying weight of trailer. The latches can be opened and a crank shaft turned to lower the pedestals and move them to the side to set the trailer on the bed of the car for endwise (circus-type) loading and unloading of trailers and for setting cargo containers or other loads on locking devices between the pedestals. This invention relates to means to hold down, release and transfer cargo pallets, containers, or vehicles to vehicles for transportation or for storage and in particular to means to automatically hook a load down and to automatically release it when engaged.

United States Patent Barry [54] UNIT LOAD HOLD-DOWN AND MOUNTING [72] Inventor: Leonard D. Barry, 19300 Pennington Drive, Detroit, Mich. 48221 [60] Division of Ser. -No. 640,131, May 22, 1967, Pat. No. 3,528,569, Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 591,369, Oct. 14, 1966, Pat. No. 3,483,829.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..105/368 B, 105/366 C [51] Int. Cl. ..B60p 3/06, B65j 1/22 [58] Field of Search 105/366 B, 366 C, 366, 368 B; 214/38.42, 40; 280/ 179.1; 296/351; 248/361 A, 1 19 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,168,876 2/1965 Clejan ..105/366 C 997,300 7/1911 Kirchner ..105/366 C 1,675,512 7/1928 Otis ..105/368 B 2,424,429 7/1947 Bamberg ..105/366 C 3,070,041 12/1962 Gutridge ..105/368 B 3,078,115 2/1963 l-larlander et a1. ..105/366 R 11s] 3,677,194 [451 1 July 18, 1972 Nadhemy ..105/366 C Primary Examiner--Drayton E. Hoflman I 571 us'nuc'r This invention adapts railway flat cars or other vehicles to secure a semitrailer on pedestals or a cargo container either on or between the pedestals. Automatic locking latches on the pedestals secure the trailer when set down thereon. A lifting device releases latches and lifts the load from the pedestals. The pedestals support the trailer bed at height above the bed of the car for trailer wheels to be relieved of carrying weight of trailer. The latches can be opened and a crank shaft turned to lower the pedestals and move them to the side to set the trailer on the bed of the car for endwise (circus-type) loading and unloading of trailers and for setting cargo containers or other loads on locking devices between the pedestals.

This invention relates to means to hold down, release and transfer cargo pallets, containers, or vehicles to vehicles for transportation or for storage and in particular to means to automatically hook a load down and to automatically release it when engaged.

21 Chins, 27 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 7 3,677,194

3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,194

3 Sheets-Sheet z Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,194

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gal UNIT LOAD HOLD-DOWN AND MOUNTING This is a Divisional application of my pending application Ser. No. 640,l3l, filed May 22, 1967 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,569; which is a Continuation-impart of FIGS. 108-1 ll of my pending application Ser. No. 591,369, filed Oct. l4, 1966 and now US. Pat. No. 3,483,829.

It is an object to provide a quick and sure automatic hold down which locks the load in place when set thereon and which releases when engaged to lift the load therefrom.

It is an object to provide a hold down system for automatic, safe, and quick piggybacking of automobiles, tracks and trailers.

A feature of this invention is the provision of special latches and catches for connecting a container or vehicle onto a flat car to locate and latch down the container so that it cannot come off unless the latches are forced open as by special lifting hooks which engage under and lift the latches before lifting the container to remove from the vehicle or storage spot. These hold down devices are sure to be engaged whenever the equipped containers are set thereon, so that manual pinning and inspection of whether the container is secured are not neccessary. This automatic latch down and release can be applied to secure a container, vehicle, or other load on a truck, trailer, railway car, boat, barge, or airplane or whever it is desired to latch down one object onto another.

It is a further object to carry semitrailers on railway cars with the weight of the semitrailer or vehicle off its tires and wheels to reduce the possibility of tipping if a tire goes flat and to reduce the wear of the wheel bearings and tires from the vibration of the railway car causing movements the semitrailer on its wheels.

It is a further object to provide pedestals for lifting each semitrailer or vehicle off the railway car bed or boat deck and for lowering the trailer and retractable to move out of the way so the trailers can be driven off and on the end of the container spot where overhead transfer means is not available. A related object is to provide two sets of catches for each container spot, one set on a foundation, floor, or deck and the other set on pedestals which can be moved over the lower catches for setting a trailer frame on the pedestals with room for the wheels below and which pedestals move out to set a container down on the lower catches.

Another object is to provide a transfer device for releasing from hold downs, lifting, and supporting large containers or semitrailers along the bottom to reduce the structural requirements of the container over that required when lifiing on the sides or top.

It is an alternative object to provide containers of both passenger and freight types with recessed lifting eyes near the top and hold downs released by lifting hooks in the eyes.

It is an object to provide automatic hold down devices on containers to secure containers one on top another in storage or on a transportation vehicle.

Other and further objects and features will be pointed out therein or should be evident upon consideration of this invention as described with reference to the drawings wherein: FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively side and end elevations of a railway car with retractable pedestals for either semitrailers or containers thereon and hoist for transferring the load to or from the pedestals.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively end and side elevations of a latch down of FIGS. 1 and 2 to a larger scale supporting the container.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lifting hook supporting a latch box over a catch, portions of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the hook opening mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional elevations of a variation of the latch down assembly on respectively the end and side of the semitrailer or container of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of half of a flat bed railway car with a semitrailer secured on the retractable pedestale of FIGS. 1 and 2 to show the pedestal operating mechanism and simplified hook and latch control.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively end and side elevations of the preferred retractable pedestal supporting a container on the car.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the lower portion of the pedestal and catch on the bed of the car.

FIG. 13 is an elevation in section taken on lines 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the latch operating details of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of a hook eye for operating the latch of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a truck with a container latch thereon.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of containers latched to each other and down on the deck of the railway platform car.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a container latched down in a passenger car with hook frame for releasing the container and lifting it.

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of a carrier setting a container on an automatic locking pedestal-set on the railway car.

FIG. 20 is a cut-a-way enlargement of a portion of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are respectively a section taken on lines 21-21 and a view on the pedestal taken on lines 22-22 of FIG. 19 to scale of FIG. 20.

FIGS. 23 and 24 are sections taken respectively on lines 23-23 and 24-24 of FIG. 20.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are respectively end and front views of another variation of the latch down assembly.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a hook for engaging the latch of FIGS. 25 and 26.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-6, a semitrailer or container 24 on a railway flat or platform car 26 is secured and supported on pedestals 30 at a height above the platform of car 26 to provide room for road wheels 32 on the semitrailer or other vehicle. The pedestals preferably each have an upstanding catch 34 faced out on each side of the car. Each catch 34 engages in a hole, foot, or latch box 36 secured along each side of the container to register with the catches 34. Tapered sides of box 36 and of catch 34 interfit to provide desired engagement tolerances and snug location horizontally both sidewise and endward on car 26. Gussets 37 on catch 34 provide this taper. A latch hook 38 is pivotally secured on pin 39 in each box 36 to engage its tooth 40 under tooth 41 on catch 34 preferably directly under pin 39. Teeth 40 and 41 wedge together as they close. Each latch 38 has an operating lever arm 42 which weights the lever closed (with aid of a spring if desired) and is opened by a lifting hook 44. Latches 38 on each side of the container are connected by a bar, preferably tube 46, secured directly on the end of levers 42 by screw 47 to swing therewith to open latches 38 when bar 46 is lifted by hooks 44.

Hook frame 50 straddles container 24 with two depending arms 52 on each side of the container. Each arm 52 has two channels 54 turned back to back and spaced apart and connected by cross members 55. Lifting hook 44 is pivotally secured to swing on pin 56 between channels 54 near the bottom thereof to swing under tube 46 to lift the tube to release latches 38 before tube 46 engages the bottom of the outer sill or rub rail of the trailer, lifting the container 05 catches 34.

Books 44 can be controlled to release a container only when set down. Hooks 44 can be controlled to release by any suitable means such as in FIGS. 46-49 of my pending application on TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM or as in my patents 3164406 or 3208789. A variation of that shown in my patent 3257142 is selected to be shown and described herewith, since this is of low cost, dependable, and useable for most applications hereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, hook 44 has a notch or ratch 58 on its top engaged by vertical latch rod 60 to latch the hook open when swung up. A lever 62 pivoted at one end to hook frame 50 and engaging a roller 63 on its other end on top of the container is connected by lift rod 64 to swing hook 44 open when the hook frame is lowered below latching position of the hooks. Hooks 44 each have an opening arm 66 extending back from'their pivot. Rod 64 has one end pivotally connected to this arm to extend up through loosely fitting U-bolt 67 on arm 62 and bent at height over top of arm 62 to be lifted by arm 62 to open hook 44 only when below latching position. Hooks 44 are latched open when arms 62 are raised to this height shown in phantom in FIG. 6.

Hooks 44 are released to swing under the container by lifting rod 60 with finger 68 on arm 62. Rod 60 is in the form of an inverted U guided i holes in cross members 55 between channels 54 to slide ver ically to keep its top loop parallel the cross members. Finger 68 is pivotally secured on arm 62 to engage in this loop or under handle of rod 60 below the pivot of arm 62. A depending tab 70 on arm 62 has a horizontal hole in which finger 68 is mounted to swing vertically. Finger 68 is a rod bent around the edge of tab 70 facing the container and extends back under handle of rod 60 and is bent down at this end to insure that it will not catch on top of rod 60. When arm 62 is lifted from the position shown solid in FIG. 6 its finger 68 lifts rod 60, releasing hook 44 to swing closed under the container and releases rod 60 as finger 68 swings up and out from under the handle of rod 60. The bend of finger 68 around tab 70 pulls finger 68 out from under rod 60 as arm 62 swings up and holds the finger on the tab. When the hook yoke is lowered after dropping rods 60 arm 62 in FIG. 6 swings counterclockwise engaging the depending end of finger 68 against rod 60 swinging finger 68 back and down as shown in phantom to swing under the handle of rod 60 as arm 62 tilts down.

The hook frame 50 can be moved up and down by various means such as a dip transfer run as in FIG. 44 of my parent application or by any of various hoists. The preferred hoist 76 has a guide frame 78 on which the hook frame runs. Guide frame 78 has vertical channels 80 which fit in inner channels 54 of hook frame 50. Rollers can be provided to reduce friction if desired but are not considered to be needed. The hook frame 50 is aligned and preferably guided on a tab 82 extending out on a pedestal 30. Frame 50 has a bottom lengthwise member 84 preferably on each side and two depending angles 86 which sandwich tab 82 therebetween and are flared apart at the bottom to engage tab 82 for aligning the container on the pedestals. Vertical coupling as in my parent application can also serve this purpose; or, with the hooks 44 able to engage anywhere along tubes 46, this feature can be omitted and replaced by automatic or visual manual alignment control.

As seen in FIG. 5, hooks 44 are preferably built up from pairs of flame cut plates connected by a trough 90 to bear the load over a considerable area of tube 44 to prevent damage to the tube when lifting.

Rather than mount latch box 36 below the frame of tailer 24 it can be mounted within the frame as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with corresponding parts similarly numbered. Tube 46 is pivotally connected to levers 42 by rods 92 and to the frame by rods 94 to support the tube below the frame to open latches 38' when moved up against the frame. Holes at 96 are enlarged to provide movement between tubes 46 and rods 92 and 94.

Where wheels 32 are too close to the frame of trailer 24 to run tube 46 over the wheels, a shaft 98 is pivoted to the frame and run behind wheels 32 and connected to a section of tube 46 by a rod 94 at each end of shaft 98 to carry the movement of tube 46 past wheels 32 to lift latch hooks 38 or 38 to the rear of the trailer.

Pedestals 30 on car 26 are preferably retractable as shown in FIGS. 2, l0, and 17 to open a passage for the semitrailer to be driven on and ofi the car in case there is no overhead transfer mechanism available at the loading or unloading spot. Pedestals 30 move straight down to phantom outline directly below the trailer, FIG. 10, and then out and down to the position shown in phantom in FIGS. 2, l0, and 17. They have a channel or boxed construction in section. The pedestals are pivotally supported at the bottom on a horizontal pin 100 parallel the side of the car. Pin 100 extends from each end of the pedestal to support a roller 101 on each end of the pin.

The rollers 101 of each pedestal are moved along by a push arm 102 to each travel a cam track 104 of shape shown in FIG. 10 to lift and lower the pedestal as arm 102 is turned up or down respectively. The pedestal is braced upright by curved parallel arms 106 connected within on each side near the middle of the pedestal by pin 107 and connected on pin 108 to the frame of car 26 inward below the deck. The length and location of arm 106 and the cam track 104 is designed to give vertical movement to the catch until lowered below releasing from the trailer before it is swung open out from under the trailer by the contour of track 104 and the pivoting of the pedestal on pin 107. The actuating arms 102 for all pedestals on each side of a container spot are secured on a shafl I10. Arms 102 are preferably forked to straddle pin 100. The shah 110 on one side of each container spot is connected to turn with the shaft 110 for the opposite side of that container spot to turn arms 102 similarly to guide the bottom of the pedestals similarly to equally lift or retract all the pedestals of the container spot together. This connection is preferably a transverse shaft 112 having a worm 114 secured on each end engaging a worm gear 116 secured on each parallel shaft 110 for that container spot. Shaft 112 has a socket 118 on each end at an opening in the side of the car for inserting a hand, air or electric cranking device to raise or retract the pedestals of that container spot. The pedestals for adjacent container spots being similarly connected can be actuated separately at substantially the same rate for long containers taking more than one container spot, or clutches can connect adjacent lengths of shafting 110 to raise and lower pedestals of more than one container spot together.

OPERATION OF RETRACTABLE PEDESTAL When a trailer is received on pedestals where no overhead facilities are available to lift 011" the trailer, the landing gear is lowered to parking lengths, tubes 46 propped up with a bar or board on each side to open latches 38, the pedestals cranked down, depositing the trailer on the bed of car 26 and swinging to the side out of the way. The catch 34 on top of each pedestal has a locus of motion to lower substantially straight down (about six inches) with a slight tolerable rock or so as not to catch on latch 38 or to bind in the latch box 36. When the pedestals are lowered and opened out as in phantom in FIG. 2 there is ample clearance for the trailer to be driven on or off. Guide curbes 120 are preferably provided on car 26 to prevent the vehicles thereon from colliding with the opened pedestals. A trailer can be driven on car 26 using a ramp, stopped in alignment for latching, a cranking device inserted in a socket 118 and operated to raise arms 102, placing pedestals 30 under the trailer and lifting them up together to engage catches 34 with latches 38 and thereafter lifting the trailer slightly, releaving the trailer wheels of the load and wedging arm 102 against the cam pin 100 at the upper end of tracks 104 to block the cam wheels tight. A relief clutch on the cranking device or at each socket 112 preferably protects pedestal elevating parts from damage when jaming cam rollers 101 at ends of travel. The pedestals are held tightly and securely by this elevating device to secure the trailer or container tightly and safely for shipment.

Additional catches 34 can be secured and positioned on the deck of a car or boat to recess into holes therein as shown in FIGS. 10-13 to secure the containers to the platform or deck rather than on pedestals if only containers without wheels are to be hauled. Car 26 has catches both on pedestals and directly beneath on the floor. This is possible since the pedestals slant from sides inward over the catches on the floor and retract and swing out to enable use of the catches on the Catches 34 are mounted to recess below the deck to enable trailers to be driven on and off or to use the deck for other loads. Each lower catch 34 is secured on top of one end of a horizontal arm 124 pivoted at its opposite end below the floor to the frame of the car or boat to swing up through a hole in the floor by force of spring 126 under the catch. Each catch is latched up at floor level by a horizontal plate 128 mounted to slide under the catch with pin 130.

It should be obvious that the retractable pedestals are applicable to boat decks, barges, and storage spots to lock down either a container on the lower catches or a trailer or vehicle on the pedestals when swung over the lower catches. Automobiles can also be equipped as trailer 24 but with smaller latch boxes 36 and lift bars 46 for hooks 44. Rollers 63 would be rubber covered and the hook frame sized for the load.

SOME VARIATIONS This latch down system can have many variations and applications a few of which will be described.

The latches 38 can be connected to lift hooks or operating levers in various places on the container. By engaging the lift hooks near the top of the container the movement of the hook frame and transfer time is reduced.

Referring to FIG. 9, hook frame 50' supported on hoist or other means to lower and raise to engage or disengage the container has hooks 44' pivotally secured thereabout to engage in openings or eyes 134 in the container. The eyes have lids 46 preferably between inner and outer walls of the container and each covering the top portion of the opening to be lifted by a hook 44' and connected by rod 92' to operate lever 42 on latches 38 to release the container from catches 34 before it is lifted by hooks 44'. Hooks 44' each have a front tooth with a flat saddle 142 for latching under lid 46' and into hole 134 for supporting the container, a lobe 144 opposite the tooth to bias the hook to swing forward to insert by gravity into hole 134, a lower cam face 146 sloping down from the tooth to release the hook on the bottom of hole 134 when lowered. Each eye 134 is bordered and reinforced on sides and bottom by a flat cam strip 148 or angle run vertically on each side outside the eye and bent down at an angle from both sides of the hole to the bottom and in one side (the same for all eyes on the container) the strip continues down at the angle to the other side of the eye and this is bent straight down aways as shown. Cam strips 148 open hooks 44' when lifted afier being lowered until the hooks cam out of holes 134 and their teeth catch under strips 148 which guide them from reentering the holes. 4

Containers 24' can be latched onto truck be'ds having catches 34 secured thereto, FIG. 16. Containers 24' can have catches 34 secured on top for stacking on a railway car 26, FIG. 17, or in boat holes or to decks and for stacking in storage on catches 34 secured to sills, a slab, piles, etc. for sup porting containers in open storage against moderate to high winds.

Containers for passenger or enclosed cars 26P, FIG. 18, would have the eyes 134 at the ends of the container because of the limited side clearance between the container and the walls of the car. Hooks 44' are mounted in frame 50? to engage the passenger type container 24?.

Referring to FIG. the eye can be in the lid, one piece 46", on top of the container to lift rod 92 to release the latches before lifting the container.

Referring to the variation shown in FIGS. 19-24, the semitrailer 24" is locked down on stationary pedestals 30' on car 26] with catches or locking pins 34' which insert in housing 36' tapered to receive the pin. Latch hook 38" is pivotally secured in housing 36' on pin 39' between walls thereof to swing against pin 34 and latch therewith. A keeper block 152 slides up and down in the housing against hook 38" opposite pin 34' to keep the hook engaged with pin 34'. Block 152 has a bottom pocket 154 into which an up-pointing finger 156 of hook 44" engages to lift the block. Latch 38" has an arm 4 extending over block 152 engaged by the block when pushed up to pivot hook 38" on pin 39' to release pin 34 as hooks 44" lift the load of? pedestals 30'. Outward travel of block 152 is limited by pin 160. The latch hooks remain open until the load is set down. Spring I62 aids gravity in lowering block 152 and so aids in latching hook 38". Block 152 is relieved for latch 38" to swing therein only when block 152 is lifted and prevents the release of the latch 38" when block 152 is down. Pedestals 30' elevate the load to provide room for the wheels of semitrailers above the floor and can be made to lower or remove for other loading on vehicle 26fl Referring to FIGS. 25-27 for another variation of the latch down, catch 34 can be engaged by latch hook 38" pivotally housed in box 36" on pin 39" and lified by hook engaging its lever arm 42". The lift hook 44" has a shaft or tube 46" connected between plates 44" which are flared out on hooking end to engage under lever 42" on latch 38" and under a curved depression 166 in each side of box 36" between which sides lever 38" recesses so that box 36" carries the load on hook 44" and so hook 44" cannot slip out under load. Latch 38" has a corresponding depression l66L on its opening lever to prevent hook 44 slipping off. Latch 38" has a frontal lobe 168 which engages box 36" to hold the latch from swinging closed too much to be engaged if not set on a catch 34. Lever 42" is preferably vertically thick enough to remain between the walls of box 36" when latched.

In all except FIGS. 19-24 the lifting hook directly operates the latch hook without using a keeper block. The keeper is not needed with correct design of the latch. With catches mounted facing oppositely on both sides of the car the tapered walls of the box lock the load in all horizontal directions. The engaging faces on the catch and latch are preferably curved to the radius from pivot but on different centers to cause wedging. The pivot is preferably directly above the latching faces to insure that they will not open no matter how hard the upward pull on the catch. With this design this pull helps to hold the latch closed. A spring can be pocketed between the top lever 42 and box 36 or the container frame (coil spring) to help insure operation of latches 38 which are latched by gravity.

Having thus described a few of many possible variations and applications of this invention it is understood that all latches on a container can be released by one lifting hook or each lifting hook release all latches as by mechanical or hydraulic linkage between latches or between one or more eye lids and all the latches. Rods 92 can be connected to lift tube 46, FIG. 9, and latches on opposite sides of the container can be connected by lever linkage. Further modifications and applications should be obvious to those skilled in the arts without departing from the spirit of this invention, and I therefore desire to cover by the appended claims all embodiments which come within the true spirit and development of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vehicle for transporting a load such as a semi-trailer or a container, said vehicle comprising a bed; a plurality of spaced pedestals carried by said bed and adapted to support said load thereon, fastening means carried at the upper end of said pedestals for securing the load to said pedestals, said pedestals being retractable; means for retracting and extending each of said pedestals, said last mentioned means comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to said pedestals at about half height and parallelly pivotably secured to the vehicle below the upper surface of said bed inward of the bottom of the pedestal to brace the pedestal in the up position and move up and down on an arc from the pivot on the vehicle, a cam pin secured to the pedestal at the bottom, a cam roller thereon, a cam track on said vehicle for said cam roller below said vehicle bed, and means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track, said track being shaped to cam the pedestal to lift and lower said fastening means substantially vertically to lift and lower said load and to swing out from under said load to the side of said vehicle when lowered below engaging positions with said load.

2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track actuates said pedestals together and comprises a parallel shaft running lengthwise between said pedestals on each side below said pedestals, a worm gear on each said shaft, a transverse shaft, a

worm secured thereon engaging each said worm gear to rotate oppositely, forked arms secured on each of said parallel shafts, each of said arms straddling a said cam pin to move it along said cam track as the arm is rotated, said track having a stop at its upper limit of travel, said arms holding said cam pins at upper ends of said tracks to lock said pedestals inraised position, and means for turning said transverse shaft to raise and lower said pedestals together.

3. A railway flat bed car having retractable outswinging pedestals mounted about the bed for supporting and locking either a trailer or container thereon and for clearing the bed to the sides of the car, arms pivotally connecting approximately the midpoint of each said pedestal with the car below bed level, a cam track for each said pedestal on the car, cam track rider means on the bottom of each said pedestal engaging the said track therefore and means for moving said rider means along said cam track to lift and lower said pedestal, said arms sewing to brace the pedestals upright, said cam track being of design with upper horizontal and outer down extending portion to respectively first vertically lower and then swing out the upper end of the pedestal.

4. A vehicle for transporting a load such as a semi-trailer or a container, said vehicle comprising: a bed; plurality of spaced pedestals carried by said bed to support said load when positioned on said pedestals; means for automatically latching said load to at least one of said pedestals when said load is positioned on said pedestals; and means for retracting and extending said pedestals together to lift and lower the load with respect to the bed of the vehicle, said pedestals being so mounted as to swing outwardly to clear a driveway for longitudinal movement of the load along the bed of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle defined in claim 4 wherein said pedestals are disposed along each side of said vehicle and are movable between a first position wherein said pedestals are slanting in under the load adapted to be vertically received by said pedestals and a second position to which said pedestals are adapted to swing out to to permit a load to be positioned on said bed between said spaced pedestals; and second means for automatically latching said load to said bed.

6. The vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said pedestals are disposed along each side of said vehicle and mounted for movement between a first position wherein said pedestals are slanting in under the load desired to be supported by said pedestals and a second position to which said pedestals are swingable down first and then outwardly to position said load therebetween on said vehicle bed and to clear said pedestals beyond the sides of said load.

7. The vehicle as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said second means comprises an arm pivotably secured to said vehicle in such a manner as to swing up through a hole in said bed for use, said second means including catch means carried by said pivotal arm; and retractable means for supporting said catch means above the floor of said vehicle and adapted to permit said catch means to be dropped below said vehicle bed.

8. A vehicle as defined in claim 7, wherein said retractable means is a plate mounted on the bed of said vehicle to slide under or over said catch means according to whether said catch means is above or below the bed.

9. A mechanism for detachably securing a load to a load support comprising a means secured to the load, catch means secured to the load support, said latching means comprising: a latch, a housing means generally U-shaped in horizontal section having opposite side faces between which said latch is pivotally secured on a horizontal axis to swing between open and closed positions, said latch being adapted to automatically engage the catch means as the load is lowered onto the load support, said housing means having a opening through which said catch means extends for engagement with said latching means, the interior side walls of said housing means being contoured to mate with opposing side walls on said catch means for guiding said latching means into engagement with said catch means, a lever means for said latch extending from said latch and out from said housing for engagement with a lifting device for releasing said latch when said lever means is lifted, and means biasing said lever means downwardly to engage said latch under said catch.

10. A hold-down mechanism as defined in claim 9 further comprising a keeper mounted to have limited vertical travel in said housing means and positioned under said lever means to drop down between said latching means and said housing means to block the latching means from opening and positioned to be lifted by said load lifting device to unblock said latching means first and then lifi before said lever means to open said hold-down mechanism.

11. The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein said housing means forms an enclosure around the top of said lever means into which said lever swings when lifted and said enclosure overlapping all around at least a portion of the sides and end of said lever means when said latching means is in a latched position to provide protection thereof.

12. The mechanism defined in claim 11 wherein said enclosure is so shaped that when after said lever means pivots said latching means out of engagement with said catch means such that said enclosure covers to the bottom of said lever means and serves to bear the lifting load while said lever means is protected within said enclosure.

13. The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein substantially the lower half of said housing sidewalls slope outwardly at about 60, said catch sidewalls being similarly inclined and adapted to cooperate with said housing inclined sidewalls to guide said latch into engagement with said catch.

14. The mechanism defined in claim 13 wherein an upper portion of said housing sidewalls extend vertically above the lower inclined portions thereof, said latch being pivotably secured between said vertical portions of said housing sidewalls.

15. The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein said housing sidewalls are connected by a backwall; said back wall serving as stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of said latch substantially beyond its engaged position with said latch.

16. A support securing means for holding a load such as a semi-trailer or a container above a bed comprising: a plurality of spaced pedestals carried by said bed and adapted to support said load thereon along the sides thereof, said pedestals being retractable to clear the bed beyond the sides of the load as for movement of vehicles on the bed; means for retracting and extending each of said pedestals, said last mentioned means comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to said pedestal at about half height and parallelly pivotably secured to the bed below the top thereof said bed inward of the bottom of the pedestal to swing the pedestal up and down on an are from the pivot on the pedestal, a cam pin secured to the bed at the bottom, a cam roller thereon, a cam track on said bed for said cam roller below the upper surface of said bed, and means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track, fastening means on top of said pedestal for holding said load, said track being shaped to earn the pedestal to lift and lower said fastening means substantially vertically to lift and lower said load and to swing out from under said load to the side of said load when lowered below engaging positions with said load.

17. A support securing means as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track actuates said pedestals together and comprises a parallel shaft running lengthwise between said pedestals on each side below said pedestals, a worm gear on each said shaft, a transverse shaft, a worm secured thereon engaging each said worm gear to rotate oppositely, forked arms secured on each of said parallel shafts, each said arm straddling a said cam pin to move it along said cam track as the arm is rotated, said track having a stop at its upper limit of travel, said arms holding said cam pins at upper ends of said tracks to lock said pedestals in raised position, and means for turning said transverse shaft to raise and lower said pedestals together.

18. A first object and a second object, said first object being above said second object, means for detachably securing said first and second objects together comprising a plurality of latching means spaced about and secured to said first object, catch means secured on said second object to engage in said latching means, each said latching means comprising: a latch, a housing in horizontal section generally U-shaped having opposite side faces between which said latch is pivotally secured on a horizontal axis to swing between open and closed positions, said latch having a cam face adapted to engage said catch to open said latch as said first object is lowered onto said second object, said latch being biased to latch with said catch, said housing tapering open toward the bottom below the pivot of said latch, said latch being faced into said housing with space in front thereof so that said catch can enter that space with clearance between the catch and tapered portions decreasing as said catch moves to a latching position whereby said tapered portions guide on said catch to a latching position, lever means for said latch extending substantially horizontally rearward in line with said pivot from said latch and out from said housing for engagement with a lifting device for releasing said latch when said lever means is lifted thereby.

19. A plurality of latching means as in claim 18 arranged in opposite facing sets, said lever means having a lever arm, said lever arms of each said set being connected by bar means for engagement by lifting means substantially anywhere along its length to lifl the bar to release the latch and lift the load.

20. An arrangement as in claim 19, said bar means being positioned to engage the bottom of said load when lifted to distribute the load.

21. A combination as in claim 18, said latch having a tooth directly under said pivot, said tooth having a surface for engaging said catch, said surface being substantially curved to an arc swung substantially from said pivot to said surface, said catch having a corresponding inverted tooth for engaging therewith.

# 1F t i 

1. A vehicle for transporting a load such as a semi-trailer or a container, said vehicle comprising a bed; a plurality of spaced pedestals carried by said bed and adapted to support said load thereon, fastening means carried at the upper end of said pedestals for securing the load to said pedestals, said pedestals being retractable; means for retracting and extending each of said pedestals, said last mentioned means comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to said pedestals at about half height and parallelly pivotably secured to the vehicle below the upper surface of said bed inward of the bottom of the pedestal to brace the pedestal in the up position and move up and down on an arc from the pivot on the vehicle, a cam pin secured to the pedestal at the bottom, a cam roller thereon, a cam track on said vehicle for said cam roller below said vehicle bed, and means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track, said track being shaped to cam the pedestal to lift and lower said fastening means substantially vertically to lift and lower said load and to swing out from under said load to the side of said vehicle when lowered below engaging positions with said load.
 2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track actuates said pedestals together and comprises a parallel shaft running lengthwise between said pedestals on each side below said pedestals, a worm gear on each said shaft, a transverse shaft, a worm secured thereon engaging each said worm gear to rotate oppositely, forked arms secured on each of said parallel shafts, each of said arms straddling a said cam pin to move it along said cam track as the arm is rotated, said track having a stop at its upper limit of travel, said arms holding said cam pins at upper ends of said tracks to lock said pedestals in raised position, and means for turning said transverse shaft to raise and lower said pedestals together.
 3. A railway flat bed car having retractable outswinging pedestals mounted about the bed for supporting and locking either a trailer or container thereon and for clearing the bed to the sides of the car, arms pivotally connecting approximately the midpoint of each said pedestal with the car below bed level, a cam track for each said Pedestal on the car, cam track rider means on the bottom of each said pedestal engaging the said track therefore and means for moving said rider means along said cam track to lift and lower said pedestal, said arms serving to brace the pedestals upright, said cam track being of design with upper horizontal and outer down extending portion to respectively first vertically lower and then swing out the upper end of the pedestal.
 4. A vehicle for transporting a load such as a semi-trailer or a container, said vehicle comprising: a bed; plurality of spaced pedestals carried by said bed to support said load when positioned on said pedestals; means for automatically latching said load to at least one of said pedestals when said load is positioned on said pedestals; and means for retracting and extending said pedestals together to lift and lower the load with respect to the bed of the vehicle, said pedestals being so mounted as to swing outwardly to clear a driveway for longitudinal movement of the load along the bed of the vehicle.
 5. The vehicle defined in claim 4 wherein said pedestals are disposed along each side of said vehicle and are movable between a first position wherein said pedestals are slanting in under the load adapted to be vertically received by said pedestals and a second position to which said pedestals are adapted to swing out to to permit a load to be positioned on said bed between said spaced pedestals; and second means for automatically latching said load to said bed.
 6. The vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said pedestals are disposed along each side of said vehicle and mounted for movement between a first position wherein said pedestals are slanting in under the load desired to be supported by said pedestals and a second position to which said pedestals are swingable down first and then outwardly to position said load therebetween on said vehicle bed and to clear said pedestals beyond the sides of said load.
 7. The vehicle as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said second means comprises an arm pivotably secured to said vehicle in such a manner as to swing up through a hole in said bed for use, said second means including catch means carried by said pivotal arm; and retractable means for supporting said catch means above the floor of said vehicle and adapted to permit said catch means to be dropped below said vehicle bed.
 8. A vehicle as defined in claim 7, wherein said retractable means is a plate mounted on the bed of said vehicle to slide under or over said catch means according to whether said catch means is above or below the bed.
 9. A mechanism for detachably securing a load to a load support comprising a means secured to the load, catch means secured to the load support, said latching means comprising: a latch, a housing means generally U-shaped in horizontal section having opposite side faces between which said latch is pivotally secured on a horizontal axis to swing between open and closed positions, said latch being adapted to automatically engage the catch means as the load is lowered onto the load support, said housing means having a opening through which said catch means extends for engagement with said latching means, the interior side walls of said housing means being contoured to mate with opposing side walls on said catch means for guiding said latching means into engagement with said catch means, a lever means for said latch extending from said latch and out from said housing for engagement with a lifting device for releasing said latch when said lever means is lifted, and means biasing said lever means downwardly to engage said latch under said catch.
 10. A hold-down mechanism as defined in claim 9 further comprising a keeper mounted to have limited vertical travel in said housing means and positioned under said lever means to drop down between said latching means and said housing means to block the latching means from opening and positioned to be lifted by said load lifting device to unblock said latching means first and then lift bEfore said lever means to open said hold-down mechanism.
 11. The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein said housing means forms an enclosure around the top of said lever means into which said lever swings when lifted and said enclosure overlapping all around at least a portion of the sides and end of said lever means when said latching means is in a latched position to provide protection thereof.
 12. The mechanism defined in claim 11 wherein said enclosure is so shaped that when after said lever means pivots said latching means out of engagement with said catch means such that said enclosure covers to the bottom of said lever means and serves to bear the lifting load while said lever means is protected within said enclosure.
 13. The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein substantially the lower half of said housing sidewalls slope outwardly at about 60*, said catch sidewalls being similarly inclined and adapted to cooperate with said housing inclined sidewalls to guide said latch into engagement with said catch.
 14. The mechanism defined in claim 13 wherein an upper portion of said housing sidewalls extend vertically above the lower inclined portions thereof, said latch being pivotably secured between said vertical portions of said housing sidewalls.
 15. The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein said housing sidewalls are connected by a backwall; said back wall serving as stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of said latch substantially beyond its engaged position with said latch.
 16. A support securing means for holding a load such as a semi-trailer or a container above a bed comprising: a plurality of spaced pedestals carried by said bed and adapted to support said load thereon along the sides thereof, said pedestals being retractable to clear the bed beyond the sides of the load as for movement of vehicles on the bed; means for retracting and extending each of said pedestals, said last mentioned means comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to said pedestal at about half height and parallelly pivotably secured to the bed below the top thereof said bed inward of the bottom of the pedestal to swing the pedestal up and down on an arc from the pivot on the pedestal, a cam pin secured to the bed at the bottom, a cam roller thereon, a cam track on said bed for said cam roller below the upper surface of said bed, and means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track, fastening means on top of said pedestal for holding said load, said track being shaped to cam the pedestal to lift and lower said fastening means substantially vertically to lift and lower said load and to swing out from under said load to the side of said load when lowered below engaging positions with said load.
 17. A support securing means as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for moving said cam pin to follow said cam track actuates said pedestals together and comprises a parallel shaft running lengthwise between said pedestals on each side below said pedestals, a worm gear on each said shaft, a transverse shaft, a worm secured thereon engaging each said worm gear to rotate oppositely, forked arms secured on each of said parallel shafts, each said arm straddling a said cam pin to move it along said cam track as the arm is rotated, said track having a stop at its upper limit of travel, said arms holding said cam pins at upper ends of said tracks to lock said pedestals in raised position, and means for turning said transverse shaft to raise and lower said pedestals together.
 18. A first object and a second object, said first object being above said second object, means for detachably securing said first and second objects together comprising a plurality of latching means spaced about and secured to said first object, catch means secured on said second object to engage in said latching means, each said latching means comprising: a latch, a housing in horizontal section generally U-shaped having opposite side faces between which said latch is pivotally secured on a horizontal axis To swing between open and closed positions, said latch having a cam face adapted to engage said catch to open said latch as said first object is lowered onto said second object, said latch being biased to latch with said catch, said housing tapering open toward the bottom below the pivot of said latch, said latch being faced into said housing with space in front thereof so that said catch can enter that space with clearance between the catch and tapered portions decreasing as said catch moves to a latching position whereby said tapered portions guide on said catch to a latching position, lever means for said latch extending substantially horizontally rearward in line with said pivot from said latch and out from said housing for engagement with a lifting device for releasing said latch when said lever means is lifted thereby.
 19. A plurality of latching means as in claim 18 arranged in opposite facing sets, said lever means having a lever arm, said lever arms of each said set being connected by bar means for engagement by lifting means substantially anywhere along its length to lift the bar to release the latch and lift the load.
 20. An arrangement as in claim 19, said bar means being positioned to engage the bottom of said load when lifted to distribute the load.
 21. A combination as in claim 18, said latch having a tooth directly under said pivot, said tooth having a surface for engaging said catch, said surface being substantially curved to an arc swung substantially from said pivot to said surface, said catch having a corresponding inverted tooth for engaging therewith. 